IIHSA Events

Dr Giorgos Papantoniou, Landscape Archaeology and Social Transformations: Voices from Cyprus
You are invited to a hybrid lecture (online and at the IIHSA premises in Athens) on Thursday March 6th 2025 at 7.00 pm (Greek time) by Dr Giorgos Papantoniou (Trinity College Dublin) on ‘Landscape Archaeology and Social Transformations: Voices from Cyprus.’
Abstract: A holistic approach to landscape archaeology considers ‘landscape’ as an expression of society within a system of cultural meaning; it gives equal consideration to built and natural environments, as well as humans and movable objects, seeking to ‘read’ place-making and materialisation of ideologies. This paper, using Cyprus as a case-study, aims to raise issues for discussion about the changes in the use and concept of sacred landscapes as developed in the Archaic and Classical periods under the Cypriot kings (the basileis), but then continued to function in a new imperial environment, that of the rule of the Ptolemaic strategos and later of the Roman proconsul. This diachronic, inter-disciplinary and Cypro-centric approach reveals that the new politico-economic Hellenistic and Roman structures were, as in the preceding periods, supported by the construction of symbolically charged sacred landscapes. Thus, during the long history of the island, we may identify three pivotal phases: first the consolidation of the Cypriot polities and the establishment of a ‘full’ sacred landscape as shown by the rise of the number of urban and extra-urban sanctuaries; then the transition from segmented to unitary administration under Ptolemaic and Roman imperial rule and the consolidation of a more ‘unified sacred landscape’; finally, as a conclusion, the establishment of a number of Christian bishoprics on the island and the movement back to a ‘full’ sacred landscape as shown by the establishment of a great number of urban and extra-urban basilicas.Case-studies will also be drawn from the archaeological surface survey project in the Xeros River Valley in Larnaka, where we have recently combined landscape, historical and community archaeology to address issues related to contemporary cultural heritage and societal transformations, such as healing of negative memories and contribute to various communities’ wellbeing. Moving beyond the particular example of Cyprus, this contribution offers a paradigm for the implications that the employment of the ‘sacred landscapes’ concept may have when addressing issues of socio-political and socio-economic transformations.
Please reserve an in person place:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/iihsa-lecture-tickets-1262454628779?aff=oddtdtcreator
or register to join us online:
https://tcd-ie.zoom.us/meeting/register/VhOTsAsFS7uttQrz0w66Iw
Dr Giota Barlagianni, ‘Death and Ritual in the Ubaid Period: Social Perspectives on Mortuary Practices in 5th Millennium B.C. Mesopotamia.’
You are invited to an in person lecture at the IIHSA premises in Athens on February 20 2025 at 7.00 pm (Greek time) by Dr Giota Barlagianni, ‘Death and Ritual in the Ubaid Period: Social Perspectives on Mortuary Practices in 5th Millennium B.C. Mesopotamia.’
The archaeological evidence related to the material assemblage of the Ubaid culture remains elusive in determining whether its spread was due to expansion or colonisation without a centralised authority. The Ubaid culture lasted approximately 2 millennia (from 6500 to 4900 BCE) and eventually spread from southern Mesopotamia to a vast area including Saudi Arabia, northern Mesopotamia, northern Syria, southern Anatolia and western Iran. However, the notable shortage of prestige goods and raw materials, as well as the poor burial offerings, suggest that Ubaid communities were largely unstratified. It was only at the end of this period that crystallized mortuary practices began to emerge, with some examples of differentiation in burial contexts. A closer examination of the Ubaid ritual reveals how death was viewed and dealt with, and how this concept developed in the ever-expanding society. The diversity of funerary customs in this period reflects a shift towards more complex social structures. In this context, ancestor worship emerged and burial ceremonies became increasingly elaborate.

Dr Georgios Doudalis, A Last Time Together: Understanding Social Behaviors in Times of Peril at Mochlos during the LM IB period.
You are invited to an IIHSA Lecture (online) on Friday January 31st 2025 at 7.00 pm (Greek time)/ 5.00 pm (Irish time) / 12.00 (EST) by Dr Georgios Doudalis (University of North Carolina, Greensboro), ‘A Last Time Together: Understanding Social Behaviors in Times of Peril at Mochlos during the LM IB period.’
The settlement at Mochlos stands out for its distinct chronological phases spanning from the Early Bronze Age to the Hellenistic period. This extensive period of occupation is marked by building, rebuilding, expanding, or shrinking of the settlement, due to natural causes (earthquakes?) or human interference. At the end of the LM IB, Mochlos seems to face such destruction. The question I will respond to is: Do we have evidence of communal behavior before such abandonments? And how these could be explained through the examination of the material culture? In this spectrum, I will examine the so-called “closure” ceramic deposits from the Ramp, the South Terrace of the Ceremonial Building B.2, and the material from the “Theatral Area” and the adjacent rooms. Then, I will tangle with ideas about the maintenance of social distinctions in times of peril and the preservation of communal identity through ancestor worshipping as it is expressed through material and space choice.
Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1216240009609?aff=oddtdtcreator
If the event appears to be sold out, please contact us at irishinstitutegr@gmail.com and we will provide you with the Zoom link.

Eva Andronikidou: The archaeological site in its natural context: natural and cultural diachronic processes
You are invited to an IIHSA Lecture (in person) on Thursday December 19, 2024 at 7.00 pm (Greek time) by Eva Andronikidou (National Technical University of Athens), The archaeological site in its natural context: natural and cultural diachronic processes
Abstract
This work seeks to research the way the archaeological site relates with its natural context and how this relation has evolved through time, from a designer’s point of view.
The relation of man with nature has changed radically in the last years. This relation is clearly expressed in the way man creates space. Architect and urbanist Dimitris Pikionis describes civilization as the creation that was built when man was called to respond to nature: the difficulties, the needs, the opportunities. Every civilization was dictated by nature (Pikionis, 2014: 55-57). The human constructions on earth, are transitional objects between man and nature.
An archaeological site is a fragment of a past reality in the modern world. A contemporary visitor without a relevant background can hardly understand its function or perceive how it originally looked,
especially in places where the environment has changed dramatically, either because it has converted into a modern metropolis, or because of changes in the natural landscape. The design of historical landscapes, when it results from the collaboration of Archaeology with other scientific fields, depending on the case, can lead to a deeper understanding, through the spatial experience of visiting and touring. That said, the purpose of this interdisciplinary research is to investigate methodologies and production of material that can be used as a basis for a design proposal of an architectural synthesis of an archaeological site.

Stefano Ruzza, Which Mycenaeans? Forms of Regionalism in the Copais Basin in LH IIIA-B
You are invited to an IIHSA Lecture (in person) on Thursday November 21, 2024 at 7.00 pm (Greek time)/ 5.00 pm (Irish time) / 12.00 (EST) by Stefano Ruzza (PhD candidate, La Sapienza University of Rome and National and Kapodistrian University of Athens), Which Mycenaeans? Forms of Regionalism in the Copais Basin in LH IIIA-B.
Abstract: The term ‘Mycenaean’ coined more than one hundred years ago, is widely used to label the Late Bronze Age culture that flourished in the Aegean. Despite its usefulness, though, this term is too broad and fails to consider the cultural, social, economic, organisational, and political differences that existed within the Mycenaean World. When regionalism is accounted, the Copais Basin in NW Boeotia is an interesting case study from several points of view. Indeed, it is somehow at the border between the Southern Greek Mainland, the heart of the Mycenaean civilisation, and its northern periphery. Its prehistoric inhabitants, also, partly drained the lake to claim new land to farm showing not only unparalleled skills but also an original economic strategy. Within this framework, I reconsider all the archaeological evidence retrieved within the region to discuss the meaning they may have had for the inhabitants of the basin in LH IIIA–LH IIIB (roughly 1400–1200 BC). Finally, I aim to stress how, despite its incredible potential, NW Boeotia is somewhat neglected by archaeological research when compared to other regions such as SE Boeotia, Argolid and Messenia.
The lecture will be held in person at the IIHSA in Athens: 7.00 pm (Greek time)/5.00 pm (Irish time)/12.00 (EST). If you would like to attend the lecture online, contact us at irishinstitutegr@gmail.com and we will provide you with a Zoom link.

Sophie McGurk: A Certain Greek Kinship: Ireland, Ancient Greece and Hibernian Philhellenism
You are invited to an IIHSA Online Lecture on Thursday October 31, 2024 at 5.00 pm (Irish time) / 7.00 pm (Greek time)/12.00 (EST) by Sophie McGurk (Trinity College Dublin): A Certain Greek Kinship: Ireland, Ancient Greece and Hibernian Philhellenism.
Abstract
The study of Classics in Ireland, and the respect it commanded, dates back to the beginning of the Middle Ages. However, it was not until 1976, that W. B. Stanford released his seminal work, ‘Ireland and the Classical Tradition’. This was a work that was the first of its kind, in what Stanford rightly called a “neglected field”. It is essentially a catalogue of classical interaction in Ireland, providing a chronological and interdisciplinary overview. However, my paper aims to show how terms like the ‘Irish Classical Tradition’ are, in fact, lacking and do not portray the tensions that arise from the complex and unique cultural mosaic that is present in the history of Irish classicism.
This paper will illustrate how I see classicism in Ireland as three-fold: as resulting indirectly and with literature at its root yet remaining pervasive in society and civic life; as consistently philhellenic; and as characterised by non-specialists in popular opinion. For this reason, in my research, I have elected to use a new term to denote this very non-traditional tradition: ‘Hibernian Philhellenism’. Thus, my re-naming of this tradition goes beyond contributing to an established frame but, rather, works to re-define said frame.
This paper will examine the factors that have contributed to my designation of this term and offer an exploration into the unique relationship that Ireland has to Greek antiquity, a relationship that was once referred to by J. M. Synge as a “certain Greek kinship,” while also proposing a new way of thinking about 'tradition' that moves beyond the model of succession that is so readily accepted in Western thinking.

Phil Holden (Greek-Irish Society), James Joyce’s Ulysses: Celebrating the Greek influence on an Irish masterpiece
We are delighted to host this in person Greek-Irish Society event and to welcome their members to our new premises at Agras 23.
Abstract
Phil Holden presents a brief introduction to the life of the Irish writer James Joyce, with the distinct focus on his greatest work, Ulysses. In addition to exploring the remarkable story of Joyce’s struggle to write and publish Ulysses in the face of accusations of obscenity, the talk will throw light on the brilliance of the book itself, its literary inventiveness and, above all, its ingenious retelling of Homer’s Odyssey.
When Ulysses was published in 1922 it changed literature, while also creating an enduring connection between Irish and Greek literature to be celebrated and cherished even now, more than a century later. Come along to the presentation, learn about a remarkable work of literature, and be persuaded to delve deeper into this fascinating book.
About the speaker
Phil Holden has lived in Athens for nearly thirty years. He is the headmaster of St. Lawrence College, a British school based in southern Athens. Holding dual British-Irish nationality, Phil has been a Joyce enthusiast since first encountering the author's works as a teenager. He is married to Argyri.

Eleanor Kellett: Tattooed Thracian Women in Attic Pottery.
You are invited to an IIHSA Online Lecture on Monday September 30, 2024 at 5.00 pm (Irish time) / 7.00 pm (Greek time)/12.00 (EST) by Eleanor Kelley (University College Dublin), Tattooed Thracian Women in Attic Pottery.
Abstract
This paper will explore the depictions of tattooed Thracian women in Attic pottery, focusing on reoccurring tattoo designs and their locations on the body. These depictions provide valuable insights into how Thracian women were perceived by the Athenians and highlight the cultural significance of tattoos in ancient Thrace. The study categorizes these scenes on Attic pottery into three distinct groups: enslaved Thracian women, free Thracian women killing Orpheus, and free Thracian women without Orpheus.
The paper will also address critical issues regarding these depictions, including the potential biases and limitations of interpreting Thracian tattoos through the lens of Attic pottery. It emphasizes the importance of avoiding the imposition of contemporary beliefs and meanings of tattoos onto ancient practices, advocating for a more nuanced approach to understanding the cultural significance of tattoos in Thracian society.
What can be gathered about the tattooing practices of Thracian women through these depictions? How do these depictions compare to the literary sources and archaeological record? What do these artistic representations reveal about Athenian views of Thracian women? Are tattoos evidence that Thracian women exercised some form of bodily autonomy? These are some of the questions I will attempt to answer in this talk, drawing on both ancient evidence and modern theories of bodily autonomy to provide new perspectives on these underrated forms of art.
Online registration via Eventbrite or contact us at irishinstitutegr@gmail.com

Professor Diamantis Panagiotopoulos, ‘Unmuting Minoan Koumasa. Data, metadata, and paradata of the 2012-2023 campaigns’
You are invited to an IIHSA Lecture on Wednesdau, May 29th, 2024 at 5.30 pm (Irish time) / 7.30 pm (Greek time)' / 12.30 pm (EST) by Diamantis Panagiotopoulos (University of Heidelberg) on ‘Unmuting Minoan Koumasa. Data, metadata, and paradata of the 2012-2023 campaigns.’
Abstract: More than one hundred years after the first archaeological exploration at Koumasa, a new interdisciplinary research programme commenced in 2012 under the auspices of the Archaeological Society at Athens with the basic aim of systematically exploring the Minoan settlement adjacent to the cemetery and correlating the results of the new research with those from the old excavations. The first decade of fieldwork was full of surprises and insights that lead to a radical reassessment of the original research concept. The lecture presents a concise overview of the most important results of the new excavations in the cemetery and the settlement, explores their significance for our current understanding of Bronze Age Crete, and finally discusses to what extent current strategies of processing excavation (meta)data can impact the production of archaeological knowledge.
The event will be held in person at the IIHSA. Please register via Eventbrite to reserve a seat.
Any queries, please contact us at irishinstitutegr@gmail.com

Anastasia Dakouri-Hild, Eleni Andrikou & Stephen Davis, The Kotroni Archaeological Survey Project (KASP) at Ancient Afidna in Northern Attica: a Synthesis from the Seasons of 2019-2023
You are invited to an IIHSA In Person Lecture on Thursday, May 9th 2024 at 7.30 pm (Greek time)/ 5.30 Irish time by Anastasia Dakouri-Hild (Associate Professor, Art Department, University of Virginia) Eleni Andrikou (Director, Ephorate of Antiquities of East Attica, Greek Ministry of Culture) & Stephen Davis (Assistant Professor, School of Archaeology, University College Dublin), ‘The Kotroni Archaeological Survey Project (KASP) at Ancient Afidna in Northern Attica: a Synthesis from the Seasons of 2019-2023.’
Abstract: The contemporary site of Kotroni is located about 30 km north of Athens, near the modern town of Kapandriti. Situated in the northern part of Diacria, the site lies to the north of the river Marathon which feeds the Marathon reservoir today. In the early 19th century G. Finlay described an isolated hill rising “to the height of several hundred feet. On its summit there are remains of an ancient fortress, and traces of habitation on its sides […] the hill is beautifully situated overlooking the fine undulated and well-wooded country through which the river of Marathon flows”. The citadel has been identified as the center of the ancient, constitutional demos of Afidna, and alleged to have been one of the original twelve districts which the legendary king Cecrops II brought together initially to create the polis of Athens, with the process of synoecism completed by the founder hero of the city, Theseus. KASP explores this significant diachronic archaeological landscape within its environmental, geographical, and cultural landscape utilizing a combination of historical research, digital applications, and conventional field techniques such as survey. The project systematizes piecemeal information about this landscape known to scholarship since the 19th c. and substantially and non-destructively augments the record by means of systematic collection of surface artifacts, remote sensing, geophysics, geological and geomorphological analysis. This talk presents the results of the 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023 seasons including the outcomes of remote sensing, geoarchaeology, geophysics, and intensive survey. We discuss new evidence for habitation and economic activity within the immediate catchment area of the citadel, and identify several new sites dating from prehistory through the Ottoman era discovered during the survey.
The lecture will be attended in-person only in the IIHSA’s seminar room. Book here with Eventbrite:

Film screening of Agelastos Petra (The Mourning Rock) and discussion with the Director, Phillipos Koutsaftis
We invite you to the screening of The Mourning Rock (‘Agelastos Petra’) followed by a discussion with the film’s director, Phillipos Koutsaftis. In association with the screening of the film (with English subtitles), the Director will talk to us about the making of the movie and the area of the ancient and modern Elefsina (Eleusis). The past and the present coexist in a place spoiled by modern industry but which long ago hosted the Eleusinian Mysteries, the sacred ceremonies that initiated the ancient Greeks into the miracles of life, death and the afterlife.
The event will take at the IIHSA, Notara 51A in Exarcheia, 10683. In order to reserve a seat, please contact us at irishinstitutegr@gmail.com
To attend online please register at the link below

Stephanie Aulsebrook: Context And Content: Rethinking the Poros Wall Hoard from Late Bronze Age Mycenae
You are invited to an IIHSA Online Lecture on Thursday, November 2023 at 5.30 pm (Irish time) / 7.30 pm (Greek time) by Dr Stephanie Aulsebrook (University of Warsaw): ‘Context And Content: Rethinking the Poros Wall Hoard from Late Bronze Age Mycenae.’
Abstract: The phenomenon of hoarding metal artefacts in Bronze and Iron Age Europe has attracted much scholarly interest, generating fierce debates about their secular or ritual nature in particular. The Poros Wall Hoard, excavated at Mycenae in 1952, is one of five such groups of metalwork known from Late Bronze Age contexts at this site. Until a restudy of this hoard commenced in 2018, interpretations of its underlying meaning had centred on its contents; these had prompted its assignment to the category of “founder’s hoards”, that is to say a group of objects buried by a smith for safekeeping. The first stage of this restudy, focused on the context of the hoard, revealed mistakes in its publication had obscured important stratigraphic evidence that pointed to its deliberate inclusion within a landscape of ritual activity. In this presentation I will share the preliminary results of the ongoing second phase of this restudy, returning to the objects themselves. Detailed macroscopic analysis, aided by optical microscopy, uncovered information concerning the choice of objects and their treatment that, amongst other conclusions, also indicates the influence of ritual considerations on the actions associated with the deposition of this hoard.
This lecture is co-hosted by the School of Archaeology, University College Dublin.
Registration details to follow shortly
Email for any further information: irishinstitutegr@gmail.com

IIHSA Open Meeting 2023, with lecture by Amanda Kelly: The Bridges of Minos' County (Aqueducts of the Greater Iraklio Area, AGIA)
We are delighted to invite you to the Opening Lecture 2023 of the IIHSA, which will take place on Wednesday, 25th October 2023 at 19.30 (Greece time)- 17.30 (Ireland time). It will be held online. Dr Amanda Kelly will speak on the topic ‘The Bridges of Minos' County (Aqueducts of the Greater Iraklio Area, AGIA). The lecture is preceded by a short presentation of the work of the Institute by the Director, Professor Joanne M.A. Murphy.
Since 2019, Amanda Kelly has been mapping the Roman, Venetian and Ottoman-Egyptian aqueducts of Candia/Kandiye (modern Iraklio) in Crete as part of her wider project on “The Aqueducts of the Greater Iraklio Area (AGIA)” which is generously funded by the Gerda Henkel Foundation. The project is kindly facilitated by both the IIHSA and the Ephorate of Antiquities of Heraklion. Her initial fieldwork in 2019 not only mapped the length of the Roman aqueduct supplying the city of Knossos but also that section of the 19th-centuryOttoman-Egyptian aqueduct of Kandiye built directly over it and a shorter tract of the Venetian aqueduct of Candia that either ran alongside it or was, in turn, itself partially overlaid by the19th-century system. In 2021, Amanda directed her attention to the Venetian aqueduct of Candia, identifying its springs, mapping a series of rock-cut channels, photographing the in-situ inscriptions, documenting a previously-unknown stone pipeline, and studying several stunning bridges along its course. Last summer, Amanda Kelly and Evan O’Keefe (of ProvEye) conducted a drone study of all the aqueduct bridges (Roman, Venetian and Ottoman Egyptian), along the aqueduct routes to create virtual models for future study. In her talk, Amanda will present these impressive, but relatively inaccessible, monuments and share her thoughts on how best to study and protect them for future audiences.
In order to attend the event and receive the relevant Zoom link, please register via google forms and it will be sent to you: https://tinyurl.com/msyjpjnw
This lecture is co-hosted by the Department of Classics, Trinity College Dublin

Luigi Lafasciano: The Archaeology of Ritual Dreaming in the Greco-Roman World
You are invited to an IIHSA Hybrid Lecture on Thursday, October 19, 2023 at 5.30 pm (Irish time) / 7.30 pm (Greek time) by Dr Luigi Lafasciano, ‘The Archaeology of Ritual Dreaming in the Greco-Roman World: Lines of Enquiry, Sources, Interpretations’
Abstract: The lecture will present the outlines of an ongoing research on the phenomenon of ritual dreaming in the Greek and Roman Mediterranean, from the Archaic age until Late Antiquity. The phenomenon of ritual dreaming is explored in a variety of contexts, from ancient oracular and therapeutic cults to the late antique cult of the saints in Early Christian culture. Ritual dreaming is presented both in its historical-religious evolution and through its archaeological and monumental evidence.
The event will be held in person at the IIHSA.
In order to attend the event online via Zoom, please register: tiny.cc/fqubvz
The lecture is co-hosted by the School of Classics, University College Dublin

Chiara De Gregorio: “The Ayia Triada Necropolis in EMIII-MMI and the Connections with the Neighboring Area".
Chiara De Gregorio (HGGS-DAAD, Institute of Classical And Byzantine Archaeology): “The Ayia Triada Necropolis in EMIII-MMI and the Connections with the Neighboring Area".
The Ayia Triada necropolis is located ca. 3 km west of the Palace of Phaistos and has been occupied from the Early Minoan until the Late Minoan times, with traces of later use. My dissertation focuses on studying and publishing the finds of the excavations undertaken in the Late Prepalatial necropolis: the so-called area of the Camerette. It comprises two blocks of small-sized quadrangular rooms (the Camerette 1-10, the rooms a-c), a paved area and a possible wall with baetyls, which are located 7 meters south of tholos A and its annexes. Therefore, I have examined the excavations’ documents and the architectural context and carried out the typological and comparative analysis of the pottery uncovered during the excavations of the Italian Archaeological School at Athens between 1997 and 1999 and by the Italian Mission in Crete in 1904. Up to now, this study has documented different phases of exploitation of the area during the Late Prepalatial period and the beginning of the Middle Minoan IB (2300/2200-1850 BC). At the same time, the pottery assemblages have mostly been connected to activities of communal sharing of beverages and food by a considerable number of people. Thus, the ultimate purpose of this research project is to define the chronological sequence of events in the area of the Camerette and the functions of this space over time, as well as the community connected to it. The comparison with the neighbouring areas and the broader Cretan context contributes to final historical synthesis.

Dr Francesco Ferrara: “Basileus and Basìleia: royalty and architecture at the origins of Hellenism
You are invited to an IIHSA Hybrid Lecture on Thursday, March 2nd 2023 at 5.30 pm (Irish time) / 7.30 pm (Greek time) by Dr Francesco Ferrara (Scuola Superiore Meridionale in Naples), “Basileus and Basìleia: royalty and architecture at the origins of Hellenism”.
The architectural phenomenon of the Macedonian Royal Palaces, despite the short duration of its development if compared to earlier “palatial systems”, has deeply marked the history of European architecture up to the modern era. The royal peristyle-house, which originated in Macedonia in the late 4th century BCE, is one of the concurrent aspects of a new historical course inaugurated by the Macedonian conquests in the East. In this seminar meeting will be highlighted the major role of the Macedonian basileion, and the Macedonian court society as well, in shaping the Hellenistic antelitteram “new world”, investigating its architectural forms and social functions.

Traditional Irish Music event, IIHSA with INIS
The IIHSA and INIS invite you to a Musical Event at the Irish Institute of Hellenic Studies, Notara 51a, Athens on Sunday February 19, 2023 from 2 pm onwards.
2pm: Lecture: An introduction to Traditional Irish music history in the late modern era. In this lecture Ben Zilker will take us on a brief journey through the history of Irish Traditional Music, and what makes it such a unique voice within western folk traditions. (90 minutes)
30 minute break
4pm: Workshop: Calling on flute players of all levels, ages and backgrounds! Join us for a comprehensive understanding of the basic foundations of Traditional music on the flute. Ornamentation, breathing and a variety of techniques to take your playing to the next level. (90 minutes)
30 minute break
5.30pm: Irish Trad session: Finish off by playing some tunes all around with a couple of drinks.

Dr Celine Murphy, The figurines from the Minoan peak sanctuary of Stavromenos: a preliminary report
You are invited to an IIHSA Hybrid Lecture on Thursday 26th January at 5.30 pm (Irish time)/ 7.30 pm (Greek time) by Dr Céline Murphy.
Situated in the hinterland of the Ierapetra plain near the village of Anatoli, the peak sanctuary of Stavromenos was principally occupied during the early Neopalatial period. The site, excavated between 2014 and 2017 under the auspices of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and the Lasithi Archaeological Eforia, yielded hundreds of ceramic anthropomorphic and zoomorphic figurine fragments. This lecture presents the preliminary results of an ongoing analysis of the figurines, as well as offering an overview of the fabrics and the manufacture techniques employed in the construction of the pieces. It also reports on the different types of figurines found, which range from pieces designed to be contained in vessels or models to articulated bodies. Most of the figurines are clearly gendered and often represent specific age-groups or animal species. Many of the figurines from Stavromenos also bear strong iconographic similarities with figures represented in other contemporaneous media, such as glyptic and frescoes. Drawing upon this data, this report proposes some thoughts on the ritualistic implications of the figurine assemblage, while it explores the religious and socio-political significance that Stavromenos might have held during the neopalatial period and how it compares to other contemporaneous Cretan peak sanctuaries and neighbouring mountain sites.
The lecture is co-hosted by the Department of Classics, Trinity College Dublin.
The event will be held in person at the IIHSA. To reserve a seat please send an email to irishinstitutegr@gmail.com
In order to attend the event online please register via Eventbrite

Greek and Irish Diaspora: Parallel lives
2022 is a milestone year for both Greece and Ireland marking the 100th anniversary of the Asia Minor catastrophe and the establishment of the independent Irish State. To mark the occasion, we have invited a number of Greek and Irish experts to give brief talks exploring the impact of the Greek and Irish diaspora on the formation of modern Greece and Ireland:
Prof. Alexander Kitroeff: “Greek and Irish immigrant encounters in America in the 20th century”
Dr Maurice Casey: “How Irish emigration to America shaped Ireland in 1922”
Dr Alexandra Mourgou: “Population mobility, displacement, and popular culture: From the multi-ethnic societies of the Ottoman Empire to a national state's places of rebetiko in Piraeus”
This hybrid event is organised by the Irish Institute of Hellenic Studies with support from the Embassy of Ireland. The event will be followed by a reception.
The event will take place on Friday, 2nd December 2022 at 18:00 in “Kostis Palamas” Hall.
Address: 48 Akadimias str. & Sinastr., 105 62 Athens. To book to attend in person, please email irishinstitutegr@gmail.com by November 28th, 2022.
To book to join online, please register below via Eventbrite.